Wednesday, November 6, 2013

The fourth season of HBO's fantasy series “Game of Thrones” doesn’t start until next spring, but the casting news keeps rolling in. The series is famous for many things ... dragons, sex, intrigue, deception, shocking deaths ... and the plethora of interesting characters that we get to meet (and whose complicated names we have to learn).

In an exclusive over at Entertainment Weekly, we just learned that Russian actor, Yuri Kolokolnikov has been cast as “Styr.” Styr is the leader of the Thenn, a warlike tribe that lives beyond the wall. According to EW, “At the end of the third season, the tribes are readying to potentially invade Westeros under the leadership of Mance Rayder (Ciarán Hinds) while spy-among-the-Wildlings Jon Snow (Kit Harington) was returned injured to Castle Black with news of their movements.”

Here is some more casting news for next season, thanks to EW:
British actor Joel Fry will portray “Hizdahr zo Loraq” who is described as “young scion of an ancient Meereenese family who crosses paths with Daenerys Targaryen.” His character was introduced in George R.R. Martin’s “A Dance with Dragons.”

“Homeland” actor, Pedro Pascal was cast as “Prince Oberyn Martell." This is considered the most anticipated new role for the next season. The prince is also known as “The Red Viper” and is described as “… a brash, charming, cunning prince of Dorne (part of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros). His sister Elia was brutally murdered by the Lannister knight Gregor 'The Mountain' Clegane when Mad King Aerys was overthrown by Robert Baratheon and the Lannisters. In season four, Oberyn comes to King’s Landing with revenge on his mind.”

British writer-producer-actor, Mark Gatiss, has written "Doctor Who" novels and episodes of the BBC cult classic, is co-creator and co-star of another Brit-based favorite, “Sherlock,” and has been cast as Tycho Nestoris. WinterisComing.net describes the character: “Nestoris is a representative of the Iron Bank of Braavos, legendary throughout the world of ‘Game of Thrones’ for always getting back the money they lend. Those who fail to repay them will find the Iron Bank funding their enemies, Tyrion warns in season 3, and the Crown is in heavy debt to the Iron Bank.”

Acclaimed Icelandic indie band and what sounds like the name of a Thrones character, Sigur Rós, has been cast as well. The nature of the band’s appearance is being kept under wraps but since they’re a band, we can guess that perhaps they’ll play at a wedding? Maybe that of Joffrey and Margaery Tyrell? That’s just a guess but we’ll see next spring!